Shadow Of The Pines

Album: Sun on the Square (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Karen Peris, lead singer of the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based folk pop group The Innocence Mission, told Songfacts the story behind this song from the band's 10th studio album: "It is the absence of a loved one, through change of some kind. Missing that person. Communicating over distance and holding that person in thought. So, this is a kind of lyric I seem to write repeatedly, in different ways, because of things that have happened and that loom in the future."
  • Anna Peris, daughter of Karen and Innocence Mission guitarist/percussionist Don Peris, plays viola on the track.
  • The title was borrowed from a road sign in New England.
  • Karen on the recording process: "Our favorite part of recording this was trying to grow the music as it went on, hearing our daughter's deep viola with my accordion part and Don's guitar, and I love his drumming. Adding a very high harmonica to the end, doubling the piano with pump organ. It's a little, old, wooden field organ that I love playing. It always surprises me because it can have an enormous, low, reedy, but also strings-like sound."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.